Discovering the Hong Islands: Krabi’s Hidden Paradise | Hong Island Tour from Ao Nang

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We spent a day at the stunning Hong Islands in Krabi, Thailand on a full day speed boat trip— and boy did this place not disappoint! Hong Island is perfect for adding to your Krabi island-hopping itinerary. In fact we think this Hong Island Tour from Ao Nang is the one MUST-DO trip if you are pressed for time because it offers everything that the other trips offer, but is much less busier than the Phi Phi trips which can be quite busy and stressful. As a full time travel family, we mostly don't do trips with a preference to finding our own way to places that are off the beaten track. But this trip was one we were glad we did (not sponsored - this is our genuine recommendation because the offering of day trips in Krabi is well, quite frankly, overwhelming - and this was an excellent tour that was worth every penny). So come with us and spend a day on a speedboat trip to The Hong Islands and we'll share the best tour to book.

Also: I have purposely not edited the pictures in this blog post so you can see the true reality of our recent visit. All pics are unedited / untouched.

Discovering Krabi's Hong Paradise Islands by Speed Boat Tour in the Andaman Sea

If you're new to our blog welcome! We're a full time travelling family, slow travelling around the world, mostly spending a month or two at each destination, so that we can share on this blog to bring you the best, and only the best things to do to make your next trip amazing. In 2025 we spent 2 months in Thailand, island hopping around the spectacularly beautiful Krabi. We share the best things to do at each of our travel destinations and the things to avoid as well as the must do's to ensure you get the inside scoop and have the most memorable trip.

And the Hong Islands is one of those gems that you are not going to want to miss. Far less busier than Phi Phi, equally beautiful and felt like a bit of a hidden gem behind the hype of the other more famous islands. Everybody that visits Krabi needs to see these Islands.

Ok ok we get it, you want to visit Phi Phi because of "The Beach" and it's been on your bucket list since forever. We've been to Phi Phi twice. And the first time we stayed on the island for one week, which included camping out under the stars overnight on Maya Bay (which is not and was not allowed btw) but we got lucky and knew a guy that knew a guy that knew a dog, that knew a ranger, and this was in 2010 time). And so back then we jumped at the chance to experience such magic. We saw the last of the boats leave and watched the sunset, and cooked food over a campfire and sang songs with a guitar and camped under the stars. And in the morning brewed fresh coffee over the embers of that same fire and blinked in awe as the sun came up. Just us 12 or so people on this island paradise. Eyes still gritty through little sleep. Overall THIS still goes down as a life highlight. Our group still talk about it to this day. We tidied up after ourselves and left nothing but footprints. And now I'm led to believe this thing strictly does not go on anymore! Check out our very old blog post about That Night Under The Stars on Maya Bay Phi Phi here

Me & Si are 4 in from the right. This was taken as the boats started to arrive in the morning around 8am

But having been to Phi Phi again in 2025, Guys, we can safely say that the hype has not died down, in fact it's busier than ever and because of how well known it is, it attracts a different visitor too. And so personally Phi Phi trips can be quite hectic, stressy and overrated. Still beautiful - absolutely and a blog post and video shall follow soon. And we can say all of this with a fresh confidence having visited again in May 2025 with our kids. But first, let us introduce to you The Hong Islands.

Tucked away in the sparkling waters of southern Thailand’s Andaman Sea, the Hong Islands (known locally as Koh Hong) are one of Krabi’s most breathtaking natural wonders —yet somehow still feel like a hidden gem. With towering limestone cliffs, clear turquoise lagoons, powdery white sand, and calm waters ideal for snorkelling or kayaking, the Hong Islands offer a perfect tropical escape for travellers craving beauty and serenity.

If you're planning a trip to Krabi, here's everything you need to know about this must-visit island group before setting off.

📍 Where Are the Hong Islands?

The Hong Islands are located in Than Bok Khorani National Park, just off the coast of Ao Nang and Klong Muang, about 25–45 minutes away by longtail boat or speedboat. The group consists of several small islands, but the main one—Koh Hong—is the star of the show.

“Hong” means “room” in Thai, a name inspired by the island’s secret lagoon (known as Hong Lagoon) surrounded by steep limestone cliffs that create a natural, emerald-green chamber.

There are a few islands in this cluster and a day trip will take you to them. With more time being spent at the main island. Or alternatively you can go straight to the main island yourself and spend a full day there by getting a boat there. We took this full day speedboat trip via Klook and can thoroughly recommend it. Other trips are available on the website so chose what suits. You can also book tours on the street via vendors but there's a lot to choose from and from previous personal experience you sometimes don't get what you think you'll be getting. When we book a tour we prefer to use a trusted provider.

🎥 Watch our Hong Island Trip Video Here

We took this tour booked via here and fully recommend

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🛥 How to Get to the Hong Islands

Visiting the Hong Islands is easy via day tours from Krabi, Ao Nang, or even Phuket (though Krabi is much closer). You have a couple of transport options. We did the Hong Island tour from our base in Ao Nang:

- Longtail boat (from Ao Nang or Klong Muang) – a scenic and traditional way to travel

- Speedboat tour – faster and often includes multiple islands in a day

- Private charter – great for couples or families wanting more flexibility and privacy

Google Maps Pin Location added for you - just click on the map

We based ourselves in Ao Nang for most of our time in Krabi, but tours also pick up from Railay Beach as we did on our tour, we just stopped off at the pier on Raillay to pick up 2x travellers before setting off to Hong Island.

Most tours include stops at Hong Lagoon, the main beach, amazing snorkelling spots, and nearby islands like Koh Pakbia and Koh Lao Lading and they will base their itinerary on the tide and weather. Sometimes it is not possible to get the boat to some islands at varius times due to low tide etc.

🏝 What to Expect at the Hong Islands

1. Koh Hong Beach

The main beach at Koh Hong is a picture-perfect cove with fine, white sand and calm, shallow waters perfect for swimming or sunbathing. There are shaded picnic areas and basic facilities like toilets and a ranger station, but no overnight accommodations—preserving the untouched feel.

2. Hong Lagoon (Tham Hong)

Accessible by boat during high tide, the hidden lagoon is the highlight for many visitors. Surrounded by sheer limestone walls, the calm water here turns brilliant shades of green and blue under the sun. It’s perfect for kayaking, floating in silence, or simply admiring the natural beauty.

3. Snorkeling and Kayaking

The waters around the Hong Islands are rich in marine life. You can snorkel directly from the beach or take a kayak into the lagoon and around the rugged coastline. Expect to see colourful fish, corals, and maybe even monitor lizards sunning themselves on the rocks.

4. Viewpoint Hike

A short but steep stairway leads to a 360-degree viewpoint at the top of Koh Hong. It takes about 20–30 minutes to climb and offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea and surrounding islands—well worth the effort.

🧭 Essential Travel Tips

- National Park Fee: Visitors must pay an entrance fee (as a guide, which is the going rate, we paid 300 THB for adults and 150 THB for children for foreigners in April 2025). This fee is payable on top of any tour price you pay and is usually payable with cash at the pier when you check in for your trip.

- Bring supplies: There are no restaurants on the smaller islands, so bring water, snacks, and reef-safe sunscreen. There is a drinks shack on the main island to get a great coffee, shake or cold coconut. Most trips supply food so check with your operator. Our trip the snacks were plentiful and the food for lunch was yummy.

- Go early: For fewer crowds and the best lighting, try to get there in the morning.

- Watch the tides: Hong Lagoon is best visited at high tide, when boats can enter fully and your tour guide and captain will vary their itinerary based around this.

🌿 Why Visit the Hong Islands?

While Krabi is known for its jaw-dropping coastline, the Hong Islands offer a more peaceful, less touristy experience compared to places like Phi Phi or Railay. It’s a perfect day trip for couples, families, solo travellers, or anyone looking to escape the crowds and immerse themselves in Thailand’s natural beauty. And the beauty compares. Take a look at THIS....

Stay tuned for a roundup of the other top things to do in Krabi, Coming Soon: The Best Island-Hopping Tours from Krabi

Looking to explore more beyond Koh Hong? Stay tuned for our guide to the best island tours from Krabi—which includes this exact Hong Island trip and also includes a Phi Phi day trip, and the 4-Island Tour but we hired a luxury private longtail boat so make sure you subscribe to hear when these videos and blogs go live.

Coming up next: More on our Thailand adventure and how to experience this country on a budget (even with kids!).

Want help planning your Thailand adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our Thailand Planning Tools Below to get best flights, hotels and more:

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💡HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡

✈️ - FLIGHTS - We use this flight checker to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more

🏨 - ACCOMMODATION - We use this hotels checker to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more

🧭🗺️👣 - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES - We use Get Your Guide for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different.

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!